Location Device with a Gravity Measuring Device

ABSTRACT

A location device has a gravity measurement instrument in communication with a database which has the locations relative to time of an astronomical object. The location device also has a timepiece indicating the time which may be used to determine the location of the astronomical object.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In many instances the location of an object may be critical to thesuccess of a project. Many locating systems such as Global PositioningSystems have been implemented to assist in the location of objects.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,379,224 which is herein incorporated by reference forall that it contains, discloses a Global Positioning system used inapplications involving radiosondes, sonobuoys, and other objects. TheGPS data is processed in a data processing workstation where theposition and velocity of a sensor, at the time the data was sampled, iscomputed. A data buffer in the sensor is periodically refreshed, and theworkstation periodically computes the new position and velocity of thesensor.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,983,161 which is herein incorporated by reference forall that it contains, discloses GPS satellite ranging signals at one ofa plurality of vehicles/aircraft/automobiles that are computer processedto continuously determine the one's kinematic tracking position on apathway with centimeter accuracy.

These types of systems have been useful in the locating of certainobjects. However, these types of systems generally depend on satellitecommunication to function appropriately. In places where satellitecommunication may be impeded alternatives may be useful.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A location device has a gravity measurement instrument in communicationwith a database which has the locations according to time of anastronomical object. The location device also has a timepiece indicatingthe time which may be used to determine the location of the astronomicalobject.

The location device may measure the gravitational force of least twoastronomical objects creating two vector directions. Between these twovector directions an angle is formed that may be used in finding theposition of the location device.

In another aspect of the invention a method comprising the steps ofproviding a gravity measurement instrument at a position within theuniverse may be used to locate the position of the gravity measurementinstrument. The gravity measurement instrument may be in communicationwith a database that comprises the locations of at least twoastronomical objects. Each astronomical object may provide agravitational force on the gravity measurement device, creating agravitational field. The method may further comprise measuring thegravitational field of the gravity measurement instrument; andcalculating the position of the gravity measurement instrument from thegravitational field by determining a vector direction of thegravitational force from each astronomical object. Generally, agravitometer is used in the measurement of gravitational forces. Typesof gravitometer may include a zero length spring, a Lacostegravitometer, a relative gravitometer, an absolute gravitometer, asuperconducting gravitometer, or a combination thereof. Generally, thegravity measurement instrument comprises a quartz material, metallicmaterial, elastomeric material, plastic material, or a combinationthereof.

The location device may be placed in various places such as caves,cities, jungles, a plane, a submergible machine, a space shuttle, orbeneath the surface of an astronomical object. In some embodiments, thelocation device may be used as an alternative to the commonly used GPSsuch as in cases where the communication between the location device andGPS satellite is blocked, or in other embodiments it may be used as aprimary locating device. The location device may also be placed on aplane, a submergible machine, a space shuttle, a person, or on or in thesurface of an astronomical object. The location device may be ofparticular importance in downhole operations such as mining and drillingoperations. The location device may be deployed within a tool string oron a mining machine. The location device may further be placed within ahousing that may protect it from harsh conditions. It may be ofimportance that the gravity measurement instrument be stationaryrelative to the astronomical object upon which it is positioned.Astronomical objects that may create a gravitational force on thegravity measurement instrument may include the Earth, the sun, the moon,a comet, a star, or a combination thereof. The database may comprise thelocations of the astronomical objects which may be previously known orpredictable. The astronomical object may move relative to the gravitymeasurement instrument. The gravity measurement instrument may be ableto measure the gravitational forces as the astronomical object moves.The various gravitational forces and locations of the astronomicalobject at various positions may be recorded to the database.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the gravity measuringdevice may be part of an array of gravity measuring devices which mayalso be used to aid in determining a size, a boundary, a volume and/or adensity of an astronomical object in part or in whole, such as mineralaccumulations or hydrocarbon deposits. In some embodiments, tides orother local effects may be determine through the use of multiple gravitymeasuring devices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an orthogonal diagram of a derrick attached to a tool stringcomprising a location device.

FIG. 2 is a cross-section of a drill bit comprising a location device.

FIG. 3 is a cross-section of a drill bit comprising another embodimentof a location device.

FIG. 4 is an orthogonal diagram of derrick attached to a tool stringcomprising a location device.

FIG. 5 is an orthogonal diagram of derrick attached to a tool stringcomprising a location device.

FIG. 6 is an orthogonal diagram of derrick attached to a tool stringcomprising a location device.

FIG. 7 is an orthogonal diagram of derrick attached to a tool stringcomprising a location device.

FIG. 8 is an orthogonal diagram of a location device positioned withinan under ground enclosure.

FIG. 9 is an orthogonal diagram of a location device with more than twovector directions.

FIG. 10 is an orthogonal diagram of a location device located on amining machine.

FIG. 11 is an orthogonal diagram of a location device located within anaircraft.

FIG. 12 is an orthogonal diagram of a location device located within asubmergible machine.

FIG. 13 is an orthogonal diagram of a location device on a person.

FIG. 14 is a diagram of an embodiment of a method for locating theposition of the gravity measuring device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 is an orthogonal diagram of a derrick 100 attached to a toolstring 101 comprising a location device 103. In FIG. 1 the locationdevice 103 is placed downhole in the tool string 101 beneath the surfaceof the Earth and may continue downhole as the tool string 101 proceeds.An astronomical object 102 may create a sufficient gravitational forcethat may be sensed by the location device 103 and may create a vectordirection 105 toward the astronomical object 102. The astronomicalobject 102 may be the Earth, the moon, a comet, the sun, stars, or acombination thereof as long as its position and mass are accuratelyknown. A second vector direction may be generated from an astronomicalobject, such as a planet, upon which the location device 103 is placed.FIG. 1 shows one vector direction 105 generated by the moon and anothervector direction 105 generated by the Earth upon which the locationdevice is placed. With at least two vector directions 105 an angle 106between the vectors 105 may be measured and may aid in locating thedevice 103. Multiple location points may be taken and recorded as thelocation device proceeds downhole. The inclination, rotation, anddirection of the tool string may also be taken into account by thelocation device. Measurements, such as those taken from instruments suchas accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers, or other inclination anddirection instrumentation may add data which may be used to helpdetermine the location of the location device. In some embodiments, asecond gravity measuring device 150 may be located uphole on the earth'ssurface which may be in communication with the downhole gravitymeasuring device and may be used to determine changes in gravityreadings at the surface. These changes may be compared to the readingstaken downhole to determine if an uphole or downhole anomaly isaffecting the gravity measuring device. The gravity measuring devicesmay be in communication with each other through tool string telemetrysystems such as wired pipe, mud pulse, radio wave, or short hop. In apreferred embodiment, a telemetry system such as the one described inU.S. Pat. No. 6,670,880, which is herein incorporated by reference forall that it discloses, may be incorporated with the present invention.

FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are cross-sectional diagrams of a drill bit 200comprising a location device 103 in communication with a database 201.In some embodiments the database may be located uphole. The drill bit200 comprises a body 202 intermediate a shank 203 and a working surface204. The location device 103 may be placed in a housing and in the drillbit 200 or farther up the tool string. The location device 103 may alsobe in communication with a timepiece 290 that may indicate the locationtime of an astrological object, and may be located uphole or downhole.The database 201 may comprise the locations relative to time of anastronomical object. The location device 103 may comprise a gravitymeasurement instrument 205 such as a relative gravimeter similar to theone shown in FIG. 2. The gravimeter in FIG. 2 is a weight on a spring,and by measuring the amount by which the weight stretches the spring,local gravity may be measured. It is believed that by knowing thedirection of the gravitational forces on the location device 103 one maycalculate an angle 106 between the vector directions from which alocation of the device 103 may be derived.

FIGS. 4-7 are orthogonal diagrams of a derrick 100 attached to a toolstring 101 comprising a location device 103. In FIGS. 4-7 the locationdevice 103 is stationary relative to the Earth upon which it ispositioned. Another astronomical object 102 that may create a vectordirection 105 may move relative to the location device 103. As theastronomical object 102 moves relative to the location device 103 it maycontinue to exert a gravitational force on the location device 103. Thisgravitational force may be continuously measured by the location device103 as the astronomical object 102 moves. FIGS. 4-7 shows a constantvector direction 105 toward the center of the Earth while the othervector direction 105 generated by the moon moves with the moonthroughout FIGS. 4-7. The location device 103 may be in communicationwith the database that may record this data. Knowledge of this data isbelieved to be important in downhole applications due to theunpredictability of the location of a drill bit during the drillingprocess. It is also believed that by knowing the location of the drillbit it may aid in locating substances such as oil, natural gas, coalmethane, hydrocarbons, minerals, or a combination thereof. Otherapplications may arise where the location device 103 is placed onastronomical bodies such as the moon. As the location device isstationary relative to the moon the gravitational force of anotherastronomical object such as the Earth may be measured as it movesrelative to the location device 103, which may be useful for drilling orexploration applications on the moon.

FIG. 8 is an orthogonal diagram of a location device 103 situated withinan underground enclosure, such as a cave. The location device 103 may beable to sense the gravitational forces that may create the vectordirections 105 through a formation. The formation may be rock,limestone, mud, concrete, or a combination thereof. An angle 106 isformed by the two vector directions 105 and may be used to locate thedevice 103.

FIG. 9 is an orthogonal diagram of a location device 103. The locationdevice 103 may measure the force of gravity from more than twoastronomical objects 102 creating more than two vector directions 105.FIG. 9 shows three vector directions caused by three astronomicalobjects. The astronomical objects 102 may be the Earth, the moon, acomet, the sun, stars, or a combination thereof.

FIG. 10 is an orthogonal diagram of a location device 103 on a miningmachine 1001. The location device 103 may be placed in or on the miningmachine 1001. The location device may travel with the mining machine andmay take periodic or occasional readings while the mining machine isstopped to find its location. The location device 103 may be able tosense the gravitational forces of astronomical objects during the miningprocess creating at least two vector directions 105. An angle 106 isformed by at least two vector directions 105 which may aid in locatingthe mining machine 1001.

FIG. 11 is an orthogonal diagram of an airplane 1100 comprising alocation device 103. The location device 103 may be able to sense thegravitational pull and vector direction 105 of at least two astronomicalobjects 102. As the plane 1100 moves the location device 103 may be incommunication with a database that comprises the location of anastrological object 102. In such embodiments, the gravity measurementdevice will take into account the movement of the airplane.Accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers, may be used to take intoaccount the movement of the airplane. In some embodiments, the altitudemay also be taken into account.

FIG. 12 is an orthogonal diagram of a submergible object 1201 comprisinga location device 103. The location device 103 may be able to sense thegravitational force while submerged in a liquid 1202 of at least twoastronomical objects 102. The submergible object may be a submarine, amine, a fish trap, a SCUBA diver, a scientific instrument orcombinations thereof. In some embodiments, a depth may be used inconjunction with the gravity measuring device to help determine thelocation.

FIG. 13 is an orthogonal diagram of a person possessing a locationdevice 103. The location device 103 may be in wireless communicationwith a database. The database may comprise the location of anastronomical object 102 relative to time. The location device 103 may bein the form of a handheld device.

FIG. 14 is a method 1400 of locating the position of an object. Themethod 1400 comprises a step 1401 providing a gravity measurementinstrument at a position within the universe. The method 1400 furthercomprises a step 1402 of knowing a position of at least two astronomicalobjects which each provide a gravitational force on the gravitymeasurement device. The method 1400 further comprises a step 1403 ofmeasuring a gravitational field of the gravity measurement device. Themethod 1400 further comprises a step 1404 of calculating the position ofthe gravity measurement instrument from the gravitational field bydetermining a vector direction of the gravitational force from eachastronomical object. In some embodiments, the method may comprise anadditional step of including other information, such as information fromanother gravity measuring device or another sensor, as necessary todetermine the location.

Whereas the present invention has been described in particular relationto the drawings attached hereto, it should be understood that other andfurther modifications apart from those shown or suggested herein, may bemade within the scope and spirit of the present invention.

1. A location device, comprising; a gravity measurement instrument incommunication with a database; the database comprising the locationsrelative to time of an astronomical object; and a timepiece forindicating the time which may be used to determine the location of theastronomical object.
 2. The location device of claim 1, wherein thelocation device measures the gravitational force of at least twoastronomical objects.
 3. The location device of claim 1, wherein thelocation device measures an angle created by the two gravitationalvectors.
 4. The location device of claim 3, wherein the angle locatesthe position of the gravity measurement device.
 5. The location deviceof claim 1, wherein the timepiece is a clock, a digital time system, awatch, or a combination thereof.
 6. A method for locating the positionof an object, comprising the steps of; providing a gravity measurementinstrument at a position within the universe; knowing a position of atleast two astronomical objects which each provide a gravitational forceon the gravity measurement device; measuring a gravitational field ofthe gravity measurement instrument; and calculating the position of thegravity measurement instrument from the gravitational field bydetermining a vector direction of the gravitational force from eachastronomical object.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the gravitymeasurement instrument is a gravitometer, zero length spring, a Lacostegravimeter, an absolute gravimeter, a superconducting gravimeter, or acombination thereof.
 8. The method of claim 6, wherein the locationdevice is placed in caves, cities, jungles, a plane, a submergiblemachine, a space shuttle, satellite, or beneath the surface of anastronomical object.
 9. The method of claim 6, wherein the locationdevice is placed on a plane, a submergible object, a space shuttle, aperson, or on the surface of the astronomical object.
 10. The method ofclaim 6, wherein the location device is deployed downhole in a toolstring.
 11. The method of claim 6, wherein the location device is placedwithin or on a mining machine.
 12. The method of claim 6, wherein thelocation device comprises quartz, metallic, elastomeric, plastic or acombination thereof.
 13. The method of claim 6, wherein the locationdevice is stationary relative to the astronomical object upon which itis positioned.
 14. The method of claim 6, wherein the astronomicalobject is the Earth, the moon, a comet, the sun, stars, or a combinationthereof.
 15. The method of claim 6, wherein the movement of theastronomical object is known or predictable.
 16. The method of claim 6,wherein a gravitational force from a third astronomical object ismeasured by the gravity measurement instrument.
 17. The method of claim6, wherein the gravity measurement instrument is able to determine thegravitational force of the astronomical object as it moves.
 18. Themethod of claim 6, wherein the location of the gravity measurementinstrument is recorded to the database at various points in a process.19. The method of claim 1, wherein the gravity measuring device in iscommunication with a second gravity measuring device.
 20. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the gravity measuring device is downhole one of theastronomical objects and incorporated in a tool string and the secondgravity measuring device is on a surface of the astronomical object.